Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:33pm
If you look at older videos/films/television shows, it seems that going to the theater in the 1900's was seen as more of an "event" and you'd have men dress in suits and women with a full face of make up and even dramatic evening gowns just to see a Broadway show. Around what time did seeing theatre switch to a more casual event and why?
Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:50pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:57pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 4:16pm
I first noticed a change in the late 1960s, with the "Anti-Vietnam War" movement. Prior to then, I always dressed up for the theatre or Las Vegas or to fly on commercial airlines. Either I wore my military uniform or I wore (if not a jacket and tie) at least slacks and a long-sleeved shirt. But then I noticed all the Flower Children sitting next to me at events, and I began to dress more casually (jeans and polo shirts, maybe). But I still enjoy dressing up a bit, no matter what others are wearing.
Updated On: 10/25/21 at 04:16 PM
Posted: 10/25/21 at 4:26pm
I think it has more to do with society than the theatre and I do think it started in the 60s. Today, with very few exceptions, dress as you wish is the philosophy. There are enough old TV shows and especially game shows available online so one could pretty easily chart the evolution.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 4:27pm
It didn't stop; you're just seeing less of it.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:02pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:03pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:03pm
That's why you carry heels in your bag and walk around the city in flats. I've never not dressed up for the theater in a dress or very nice skirt. I still treat it like it's an event because for the prices I pay, it absolutely is one.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:18pm
Sutton Ross said: "That's why you carry heels in your bag and walk around the city in flats. I've never not dressed up for the theater in a dress or very nice skirt. I still treat it like it's an event because for the prices I pay, it absolutely is one."
THIS. I wear sneakers/flats to walk the city, and I will keep ankle boots in my bag. I sometimes look at the tagged photos from the Musical pages on Instagram and a lot of people are still dressing nice.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:29pm
LizzieCurry said: "It didn't stop; you're just seeing less of it."
I agree and it depends on the show too. I still see a lot of people dressed up for the type of show they are attending.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:33pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:37pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:39pm
I was born in '93, so the most "dressing up" I ever did for the theatre was most likely the sequined velvet dress my parents put me in to see Beauty and the Beast when I was small. :)
I tended (in The Before Times, at least) to only see shows on weeknights, which meant that I and a lot of the crowd just wore whatever it was they had worn to work. There's only been one or two times in my life where I've seen someone I thought was inappropriately dressed - usually it had to do more with "why would you wear that in public" rather than "why would you wear that to the theatre."
Does anyone else remember this same conversation coming up years back on this board? I remember there was some serious pearl clutching in that thread, to which one wise soul responded, "OK, Miss Prissy Goes to the Thea-tuh."
All that said, I won't have enough time this weekend to change between my matinee of Caroline and the party I'm going to, so I guess I'll be in costume, but that just brings me back to what I've always thought about Broadway dress codes - you go to the theatre to look, not to be looked at.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 5:44pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:05pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:15pm
dramamama611 said: "As long as the person next to you doesn't smell, who cares? Dress the way that makes you comfortable."
And as long as your seat neighbor isn't munching on peanut M&Ms.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:16pm
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:26pm
Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "dramamama611 said: "As long as the person next to you doesn't smell, who cares? Dress the way that makes you comfortable."
And as long as your seat neighbor isn't munching on peanut M&Ms."
Unless they share with me. 
(j/k, no one likes a smelly neighbor, whether from food or body.)
Personally, I loathe dressing up for any circumstance from work to weddings to theater. I'm never more uncomfortable than when I'm dressed up and feel like I'm wearing a costume. I'm going to wear what I'm comfortable in if I paid $$$ to see something where I have to sit in an uncomfortable seat for 2-3 hours. If that includes jeans and sneakers, and if that offends others' sensibilities, I couldn't care less.
That said, to those who enjoy dressing up, more power to you!
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:38pm
Same with airline and movie prices, part of me thinks once prices got high enough, there reached a certain threshold when some people decided, "I'm paying all this movie, I'm gonna do what I want." If that means they're walking into their Premium Seats in short-shorts and a flip flops.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:43pm
everythingtaboo said: "Same with airline and movie prices, part of me thinks once prices got high enough, there reached a certain threshold when some people decided, "I'm paying all this movie, I'm gonna do what I want."
The women sitting behind me at Rock of Ages who bared her boobs to Stacey (James Carpinello) during curtain call certainly thought so.
Posted: 10/25/21 at 6:43pm
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